Call to restore Black Country town hall that hosted music stars including The Who to former glory
It is the historic Walsall venue which welcomed rock legends Slade, Black Sabbath, The Who and Robert Plant and hosted an episode of the Antiques Roadshow.
Now calls have been made to revamp the 120-year-old Walsall Town Hall in Leicester Street and make it a venue packed with exciting shows to draw big crowds back to the area.
At a full Walsall Council meeting on Monday Pete Smith, independent councillor for the Blakenall ward, asked why the “beautiful building” was often unused compared with its vibrant past.
Bosses said the hall was still on a reduced booking schedule since the Covid pandemic, but added they would be seeking advice from consultants about what work was needed to upgrade the facility in order to host larger events there.
Walsall Town Hall opened in 1903 and was designated a Grade II listed building in 1986.
Councillor Smith highlighted a number of features it boasts including its famous pipe organ, the matched pair of pictures by Frank O Salisbury to commemorate the valour of the South Staffordshire Regiments in the First World War and a memorial plaque to Walsall’s three recipients of the Victoria Cross.
He said: “The countless memorable events and personalities at the town hall over the years including the famous organist Harold Britton recording a concert Organist Extravaganza in 1991, the presence of the Antiques Roadshow in 1997.
“The performance of rock musicians there including Slade in 1966, The Who in 1966, Robert Plant of Band of Joy (later of Led Zeppelin) in 1967, Black Sabbath in the late 1960s, the heavy metal band Jameson Raid in 1980 and Reverend and the Makers in 2012.
“Given all that and much more why this beautiful building is standing unused most of the time?
“What plans there are for ensuring that our town hall has a future as the town centre’s number one community asset, owned by the council and vibrant with activities and events as it has been for most of the past 120 years?”
Councillor Ken Ferguson, portfolio holder for internal services said: “As with many events utilisation is still being impacted on the events market of Covid.
“Since booking of the town hall has been able to recommence, it has hosted a reduced number of bookings including NHS blood donors, mayor making, internal meetings, staff training and exhibition events.
“In the year to date, there has been 48 events in the town hall and events booked up to the end of the year including Remembrance Sunday memorial service and a carol concert.
“In order to expand the scale and number of events in the town hall there would need to be capital investment in the auxiliary facilities such as the bar and toilets.
“It’s proposed to seek advice from external consultants to understand the scope of the facilities required and the likely opportunities for larger events and revenue generation to assess the viability of the town hall as a venue.”
Councillor Smith said: “Given the use of the town hall are fairly middle to low-level events, what we need to do is make that a place that brings people into the town centre in such a way. The only way we would do that is by upgrading it.”
